The person that provided this camera to the museum told us: "I
bought it at an auction in Howard County, MD. The auctioneers are Gregory
and Warfield. I think the auction was for many different people,
businesses etc. in other words I couldn't give you a name of the person
who was the previous owner. The camera says Channel 9 WETT"

WHAT CAN YOU TELL
US ABOUT WETT-TV?

There is also a tag that says: "RIKER"
and appears to be a commercial nameplate of some sort. Any ideas?

1970s era JVC PV-4500 B/W
Portapack VTR and GS-4500 Camera.

.

This unit was VC's answer to
the Sony Av-3400 and Avc-3400

SPECIFICATIONS FOR
JVC GS-4500 CAMERA

Horizontal frequency:1S.75kHz

Vertical frequency:60Hz

Scanning system: 2:1 interlace (sync signal from PV-4500)

Horizontal resolution : 420Iines

Signal-to-noise-ratio 43dB

Video signal output : 1.0Vp-p composite video signal

Video signal output impedance : 75 Ohms unbalanced

Audio signal output:-20-dB

Audio signal output impedance : 600 Ohms

Operating ambient temperature 32°F-I05°F

Object illumination:Standard300 lux or more

Still object 100 lux or more Automatic light control range ; 100 to
100,000 lux

JVC GR-C1 - 1984.
First VHS single-unit video camcorder. This camcorder used
Compact VHS tape which JVC introduced in 1982. This was the
same tape as standard VHS and the same recording format, but in a cassette
which was only 1/3 the size. This compact cassette could be inserted into
in a full-sized VHS adaptor shell so that it could be played back in any
VHS machine. In this way, JVC achieved miniaturization without
compromising compatibility with older equipment. Immortalized in the movie
'Back To The Future' (photo above on right), it is the original,
definitive camcorder.

Portable video cameras have
made projectors and screens all but obsolete in most homes.

COMPACT VCR/CAMERA GOES ANYWHERE.

Zenith's Video Movie system, which combines a lightweight color video camera with a
high-performance video cassette recorder, gives professional results
in almost any situation. Take the Video Movie to the health club to record your racquetball match, then improve your game
by studying your form at home.
The Video Movie weighs only five pounds.

One of the many technological
revolutions being wrought upon
us is the replacement of the
8mm home movie camera and
projector with the video camcorder,
and the relegation of the former to
museums, along with Linotype
machines and buggy whips.
If you're in any doubt, just
look at the list of camcorder
players at the recent Winter
Consumer Electronics Show
in Las Vegas: Kodak, Polaroid,
Konica and Canon along
with Sony, Panasonic, Sanyo,
General Electric and a host
of others.

Computer aided design and manufacturing techniques have made
possible drastic reductions in size and weight without reducing
performance and features. Strength and protection are provided by
an aluminum diecast body. Total weight of the camera including
lens and 1" viewfinder is only 3.7 kg (8.2 lbs). Low power
consumption

Power consumption is a low 15.0 watts when the 1"
viewfinder is used. When a fully-charged DC-C11U battery pack is
used, the camera will operate for approximately 60 minutes at
normal temperatures (about 77 F). The camera may be powered from a
range of 10.5 to 15 DC volts. The BY-110U has a quick warm-up time
and is stabilized sufficiently for normal use about 40 seconds
after switching the power on. (Perfect stabilization will require
10 minutes or more.) Excellent picture quality

Three newly designed 1/2" Saticon (SM) tubes assure
accurate color reproduction and 600 lines of horizontal
resolution. The BY-110U has a superb signal to noise ratio of
54dB. The new 1/2" tubes (H9392) tubes were chosen because of
their excellent reproduction quality and compact size. A fast
f/1.4 glass prism assures superb resolution and accurate color
separation. Wide range of automatic functions

- Auto-shift registration (auto centering) provides automatic
adjustment of vertical and horizontal alignment (shift) of blue
and red channels. Adjustment is accomplished by simply flipping a
switch on the front panel. The circuit is digital, and
registration data is stored in the camera's memory (battery
back-up provided). - Auto white balance circuit. White color
balance can be adjusted automatically by flipping a switch, or the
camera can be operated in the "preset" position (3200K).
White balance data is stored in the camera's memory circuit. -
Auto black balance circuit. Flipping a switch automatically closes
the iris and adjusts pedestal balance of the individual channels.
- Auto beam control circuit...reduces comet tails in most cases. -
Auto black level circuit. The ABL circuit offers sharp black
images even when shooting outdoors under bright conditions. - Auto
(servo) iris circuit. The iris responds quickly to objects with
varied contrast and slowly for those with little contrast for
natural automatic iris operation. A weighting detection circuit
controls the video signal level of the upper part of the screen to
optimize the overall brightness when the sky is very bright, etc.
To protect the pickup tubes, the iris closes automatically when
the OPERATE switch is off, or when the color bar switch is on.
Extended life back-up battery

To retain the memory of the digital auto circuits, a back-up
battery is employed. This allows the camera to retain its white
balance, black balance, and auto-shift settings even when the
power is turned off. A new long-life battery is utilized for this
function and has a rated life of approximately 4 years. Access to
the battery is on the underneath side of the camera. Excellent
operability

Good human engineering went into the placement of switches and
other camera controls. Switches are "touch coded" and
some are protected from accidental mis-operation. The auto
centering and auto white/black controls are located on the front
panel behind a small door. A diopter is provided in the 1"
electronic viewfinder for people who wear eyeglasses. An optional
adjustable chest rest is available which improves stability and
comfort. The chest rest, model KA-111, is similar to the one
provided with the KY-310U cameras. "Hot shoe" connection
system

To eliminate problems with cables an connectors, the camera
head and its portable accessories are designed to connect together
without the use of cables. Direct connection is provided for: -
10:1 zoom lens - 1" electronic viewfinder - M-K50U microphone
- DC-C11U NiCad battery pack. When in operation, the only exposed
cable is the VCR cable. This feature not only solves the usual
problems associated with cables, it greatly enhances the
appearance of the camera, giving it a very "solid" look.
Genlock circuit

The BY-110U has built-in genlock facilities for locking up to
other cameras in multi-camera operations. Instead of the usual
genlock connector on the camera, to save space the genlock input
and external power inputs are provided through the AA-C11U AC
adaptor. Connection between the camera and AC adaptor is provided
by the VCR cable (VC-511Bu-2). The BY-110U will lock to any stable
composite video signal or black burst (B.B.). Built-in color bars

The BY-110U has a built-in full field color bar generator.
Color bars are useful for checking and making adjustments to color
monitors and they provide a consistent reference for checking the
performance of the videocassette recorder. Gain boost for low
light

The BY-110U has a +6dB and +12dB gain booster for operation in
low light conditions. Also provided, is a level-depend circuit
which adjusts the starting point of enhancement, according to the
light level. Together, these circuits enable maximum low light
performance with a minimum of noise in the picture. The minimum
illumination required is 65 lux (70% video level) with +12dB of
gain. Even at this light level, the picture is quiet, with well
defined images and natural colors. ACCESSORIES ------------ 10:1
Servo Zoom lens (Included in basic package)

This new JVC designed lens is one key to the successful
performance of the BY-110U. This special f/1.4 10X servo zoom is
attached via a special mount, which includes electronic
connections. Lens cables and cable problems are eliminated. Since
the cameras are shipped from the factory with the lenses attached,
each camera is "tweaked" to its own lens, resulting in
more accurate, consistent performance. Because of the special
requirements in using 1/2" pickup tubes, it was not practical
to utilize the standard bayonet mount found on other prism
cameras, since the lenses would not be interchangeable anyway.
However, for convenience the lens supplied with the BY-110U is
detachable. The lens includes a macro function for extreme
close-ups. The following lens accessories are offered for added
flexibility: * Wide angle conversion lens adaptor * Tele
Conversion lens adaptor 1" Viewfinder VF-110U (included in
basic package)

The small VF-110U viewfinder provides a sharp black & white
image of more than 350 TV lines. It attaches directly to the
camera head without cables, and has an adjustable eyepiece. A
diopter (adjustment for people who wear eyeglasses) is provided.
Brightness and contrast controls are on the side of the
viewfinder, accessible to the camera operator. A red LED tally
lamp is visible on the front of the VF-110U. Two LEDs are provided
inside the viewfinder to give the cameraperson status information.
AC adaptor/charger AA-C11U, battery pack DC-C11U

The BY-110U uses a newly designed snap-on NiCad battery pack,
the DC-C11U. This battery has a power output of 2.2 AH at 12 V DC,
and will power the camera for approximately 60 minutes when fully
charged. The battery has a built-in overcharge sensor to prevent
thermal damage caused by overcharging, and can be completely
recharged in about 90 minutes, using the AA-C11U adaptor/charger.
In addition to charging the battery, the AA-C11U is designed to
power the BY-110U. Connection is made to the camera via the
14p--10p VCR cable. In addition to providing power to the camera,
the AA-C11U has an input for the genlock signal. The power
requirement for the AA-C11U is 120 VAC, 50/60 Hz. Microphone
M-K50U

This super-directional microphone snaps directly onto the
camera. It uses an electret condenser pickup element, and receives
its 9V power supply from the camera. It can also be used with
camera models KY-210U, KY-310U, KY-900U, & KY-950U. STUDIO
CONFIGURATION -------------------- The BY-110U can be converted
into a studio camera by adding the following options: 1. RS-110U
Remote Control Unit 2. VF-450U 4.5" Viewfinder 3. HZ-ZS11U
Zoom Servo Control 4. HZ-FM11U Focus Manual Control 5. VC-515U RCU
Cable (65') 6. VC-516U Extension RCU Cable (65') RS-110U Remote
Control Unit

When you work for the largest cable system in the state, and the
6th largest in the entire country, you know you have every
reason to be proud. You can be proud of the consistency and
quality of your company. And you can be proud of your choice of
equipment.

Continental Cablevision is Michigan's number one cable
operator. When the company purchased nine BY-110U cameras for
both studio and on location shooting in its Dearborn
Heights/Westland system, the engineers had to feel confident
that the cameras they were buying would live up to the quality
that made them number one.

More For Less

Tom Pry is the program manager at Continental Cablevision
Dearborn Heights/Westland. He reports nothing but satisfaction
with the BY-110U. "Continental had been using a one-tube camera
for the public access gear. But when we realized our needs were
a bit more sophisticated, we looked for low-cost, yet durable
gear." The KY-1900U originally fit the bill. But, with the
emergence of the BY-110U, Pry seized an opportunity to get more
for less. "You definitely get more lines of resolution for less
money. We are very pleased with its performance," he says.
Only two of the nine BY-110Us are used for public access.
As for the others, two are used in the studio and five travel on
the road with a portable deck. Frequently, non-professionals
needing equipment for local access operate the cameras, but
because the BY-110Us have so many auto features, there is rarely
a problem.

Indecipherable Difference

Pry reports an anecdote that reassures him that the BY-110U
was the proper purchase. "During the taping of a local
basketball game, we genlocked the BY-110U against a camera that
sells at three times the JVC camera's price. Unless you knew
that different cameras were being used, you couldn't tell. You
really had to search carefully to detect any difference."
It's that kind of performance and the reliability that the
camera continues to function under all sorts of circumstances
that sold Pry on it. Bill Schripsema of Cruse Communications in
Lansing recommended the BY-110, knowing the extent of Pry's
responsibility and requirements. Pry's choice was well-thought
out.

Continental Cablevision is a coast-to-coast cable system
that celebrated signing its one millionth subscriber in March of
1985. The recent purchase of four California-based systems
moved Continental from #7 to #6 in national ranking. Each
system functions almost autonomously. Pry's division serves
Dearborn Heights and Westland, Michigan. But his cameras serve
many people, within and outside of Continental Cablevision. So
far, no one is complaining.

08-27-85
JVC BY-110U CAMERA IDEAL FOR
FILM TO VIDEO CONVERSION

For converting home movies, 8 mm, super 8, slides, etc. on to
videocassettes, Matrix Video Inc. of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., has found
the JVC BY-110U color camera to be ideal. The company has had the three-
tube camera since October, and has put thousands of hours on it without
needing to replace the tubes.

Avoiding Overkill
-----------------
According to Pete Ellingson, president of Matrix Video, "About 90
percent of our business is converting to video. We use the BY-110U on a
Buhl film chain and have had nothing but success with it. It's excellent
for maintaining picture and color quality."

Ellingson feels that this lightweight camera is well-suited for his
needs because his work is primarily industrial and in-house video.
"We're
not broadcast," he says, "so too much sophistication is
overkill." But the
BY-110U's resolution and faithful color reproduction are essential and its
longevity and low-cost increase its value even further.

Significantly, the BY-110U is equipped with a unique 10:1 lens that
works beautifully for Ellingson's purposes.

Matrix Video, Inc. does a great deal of film-to-video and slide-to-
video conversion, but also does out-of-house production and a small amount
of duplication.

Everyday we rescue items you
see on these pages!
What do you have hiding in a closet or garage?
What could you add to the museum displays or the library?